SOUNDS 11April1981
HEAVEN DISSENT: Never mind about BEF's Heaven 17 getting the thumbs down from the Beeb - a message has been received from another Heaven 17, who hail from Bradford and claim to have recorded/gigged under the name for well over a year. As proof, they say the name appeared in local rockzine Wool City Rocker in 1979, and a special flexi-disc, made in 1980, has just been issued with the February edition of WCR. "They obviously thought we were small, with no media backing," explained the 'originals', "just a sad provincial band - no way, we have a large following up here and the work we have put in has been screwed up. Virgin Records have our video and demos and have been aware of our existence."
Posters for the 'real' band are splattered over West Yorkshire, leading them to conclude that this is how Marsh and Ware came upon the name. Playing to audiences who want autographs and who ask how Phil is getting on is becoming tiresome for the miffed Bradfordians. Although the non-BEF variety can do nothing if they didn't register their name, they wouldn't mind some kind of compensation for the inconvenience caused. Cheques, apologies; etc, should go to Heaven 17, 33 Cliffe Lane South, Basildon, Shipley, W. Yorks.